NewsWhore
03-02-2010, 06:40 PM
In its US Drug Report 2010, the US State Department says that corruption is "endemic" at all levels of government and throughout private special interest groups in the Dominican Republic. The description comes on the heels of a recent statement by President Leonel Fernandez who said that corruption in his government only occurs in "isolated cases."
"Improvements in domestic law enforcement capabilities and cooperation between the Dominican National Police (DNP) and the National Drug Control Department (DNCD) were evident during the past year with an increased focus on fighting corruption and money laundering activities," says the newly released report. But then, it states: "However, endemic corruption at all levels of the government of Dominican Republic (GODR) and throughout private sector special interest groups still hinders efforts to counter-narcotics smuggling, money laundering, migrant smuggling and a wide variety of other criminal activities."
The US report highlights the fact that Major General Rolando Rosado Mateo's appointment to head the DNCD in August 2009 led to an increase in the pressure on drug trafficking operations. "With the new DNCD chief accompanying agents on raids and taking a lead role in operations, the impact was immediate, resulting in an increased tempo of drug seizures."
According to the US report: "The new head of the DNCD emphasized pursuing major drug traffickers. In one case, based on information from the US Marshals, the DNCD Tactical Response Team attempted to capture major drug trafficker Jose D. Figueroa Agosto. Though Figueroa eluded capture, authorities recovered a laptop computer containing information that led to the seizure of cash and jewelry worth over $9.1 million, three vehicles and two apartments. Interdiction capabilities were expanded in December when President Fernandez received the first two of eight Super Tucano aircraft that the GODR purchased from Brazil in order to combat illicit air trafficking from South America. Armed Forces Minister Lieutenant General Rafael Pena Antonio predicts that the Brazilian Super Tucano jets purchased by the Dominican government will reduce drug drops by 75 percent".
In its conclusions, the US drug report states:
"The GODR is encouraged to continue building coherent counter-narcotics programs that can resist the pressures of corruption and address new challenges presented by narcotics trafficking organizations. The most important task facing the GODR is to stop the endemic corruption and improve public confidence in the government. Results of a Gallup-Hoy poll indicate that 52.6 percent of the population believes that drug trafficking has penetrated the DR because of complicity between drug dealers and the authorities."
For the complete report, see www.state.gov/p/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2010/vol1/index.htm (http://www.state.gov/p/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2010/vol1/index.htm)
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#4)
"Improvements in domestic law enforcement capabilities and cooperation between the Dominican National Police (DNP) and the National Drug Control Department (DNCD) were evident during the past year with an increased focus on fighting corruption and money laundering activities," says the newly released report. But then, it states: "However, endemic corruption at all levels of the government of Dominican Republic (GODR) and throughout private sector special interest groups still hinders efforts to counter-narcotics smuggling, money laundering, migrant smuggling and a wide variety of other criminal activities."
The US report highlights the fact that Major General Rolando Rosado Mateo's appointment to head the DNCD in August 2009 led to an increase in the pressure on drug trafficking operations. "With the new DNCD chief accompanying agents on raids and taking a lead role in operations, the impact was immediate, resulting in an increased tempo of drug seizures."
According to the US report: "The new head of the DNCD emphasized pursuing major drug traffickers. In one case, based on information from the US Marshals, the DNCD Tactical Response Team attempted to capture major drug trafficker Jose D. Figueroa Agosto. Though Figueroa eluded capture, authorities recovered a laptop computer containing information that led to the seizure of cash and jewelry worth over $9.1 million, three vehicles and two apartments. Interdiction capabilities were expanded in December when President Fernandez received the first two of eight Super Tucano aircraft that the GODR purchased from Brazil in order to combat illicit air trafficking from South America. Armed Forces Minister Lieutenant General Rafael Pena Antonio predicts that the Brazilian Super Tucano jets purchased by the Dominican government will reduce drug drops by 75 percent".
In its conclusions, the US drug report states:
"The GODR is encouraged to continue building coherent counter-narcotics programs that can resist the pressures of corruption and address new challenges presented by narcotics trafficking organizations. The most important task facing the GODR is to stop the endemic corruption and improve public confidence in the government. Results of a Gallup-Hoy poll indicate that 52.6 percent of the population believes that drug trafficking has penetrated the DR because of complicity between drug dealers and the authorities."
For the complete report, see www.state.gov/p/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2010/vol1/index.htm (http://www.state.gov/p/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2010/vol1/index.htm)
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#4)